Chute discharge device for grain bins



Jan. 11, 1955 w. J. SANEHOLTZ CHUTE DISCHARGE DEVICE FOR GRAIN BINSFiled Oct. 13, 1953 INVENTOR. W/UM/x/ Jmefia BYW d],

United States Patent 2,699,280 CHUTE DISCHARGE DEVICE FOR GRAIN BINSWilber J. Saneholtz, Napoleon, Ohio Application October 13, 1953, SerialNo. 385,771 1 Claim. (Cl. 226-58) This invention relates to dischargechute devices particularly adapted for grain bins and an object is toproduce a new and improved device of this character which can be appliedas a unit to a grain bin and which when in inoperative position isdisposed substantially flush with the outer wall of the grain bin butwhich can be readily moved to operative position to enable the contentsor a substantial portion of the bin to be emptied, provision be ing madefor receiving bags into which the grain or the like flows, the structurefurther being designed to discharge the major portion of the bin beforeit is necessary to shovel out the remainder or that portion disposedbetween the chute and the bottom of the bin.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appearand for purposes of illustration but not of limitation an embodiment ofthe invention is shown on the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 isa somewhat diagrammatic view in vertical sectional elevation showing agrain bin with a chute discharge device mounted in the front wallthereof to enable a substantial portion of the contents of the bin to bedischarged;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of the discharge chute unitshowing the chute in its opposite or open position and indicating a bagin position to be filled;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view substantially on the line 3-3of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the chute device inits closed position; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view along the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a grainjbin,having a vertically disposed front wall. Disposed in the front wall adesired distance above the floor line suitable for convenient handlingis a rectangular opening. A discharge chute unit, hereinafter to bedescribed is mounted in an opening 0 to enable the contents of the grainbin above this position to be conveniently emptied.

As shown the discharge chute unit comprises a rectangular sheet metalface plate 10, which has a rectangular opening 12. Secured to the rearface of the plate is a substantially U shaped sheet metal wall having apair of laterally spaced parallel side walls 13, only one of which isshown, and a rear wall 14. On the front edge of each of the side walls13 is an inturned flange which abuts against the rear face of the faceplate 10 and in this instance is welded thereto. Thus the U-shaped wallstructure is open at the top and the bottom but the edge 01" the topinclines downwardly and rearwardly from the face plate as best shown onFigure 3, whereas the bottom edge of the side walls 13 is atsubstantially right angles to the face plate 10.

Adjacent the upper edge of each of the side walls 13 is a guide strip 16which may be spot welded in place and is provides a supporting guide foran imperforate plate 17, which, as indicated on Figure 3 inclinesdownwardly and rearwardly, similar to the top edges of the side walls13. The plate 17 which constitutes a gate valve is slidable through anopening 18 in the face plate 10 above the rectangular opening 12 andthat portion of the plate 17 which projects outside of the face plate inthis instance is curled upwardly and inwardly to provide a handle whichcan be grasped for sliding the gate valve to and from its closedposition.

It will be understood that when the gate valve 17 is slid outwardly asindicated by the broken lines on Figure especially as defined in 3,grain can enter the space therebelow and pass out through the opening 12to the chute which will hereinafter be described. Thus by manipulationof the valve plate 17, the discharge of grain is controlled in a simplemanner.

The chute structure has a bottom imperforate sheet metal wall 20 fromwhich rise at the side edges integral side walls 21 which are parallelwith each other, the outer edges of which are in an are determined bythe swinging movement of the chute as will hereinafter appear. The innerend or lower end of the wall 20'is connected to the lower edge of therectangular opening 12 of the face plate 10 by a hinge 22, therebyenabling the chute to rock about a horizontal axis and to swing to adownwardly inclined position particularly as indicated in Figure 3. Itwill be observed that the bottom wall 20 projects outwardly slightlybeyond the side walls 21 in order to abut against the face plate 10 whenthe chute is in its closed or inoperative position. The outer end of thebottom wall 20 terminates in an inwardly curled portion 24 providing ahandle. This inwardly curled portion has lateral extensions 24a whichprovide a bag support as indicated in Figure 2 when the chute is in itsoperative position. Thus the portion of the bag mouth can be hooked overthe laterally extended portions 24a in order to receive the grain fromthe bin G.

At the inner end of each of the side walls 21 is an outwardly bentflange portion 23 which provides a stop to engage the adjacent inturnedflange 15 of the respective side wall13. This enables the chute to beswung outwardly to its operative position and supported in suchposition. In order to reinforce the side walls 21 a transverse rod 25connects the two side walls 21 of the chute device adjacent the inneredges thereof and adjacent the top of the sidewalls.

From the above description it will be manifest that I have produced anexceedingly simple and inexpensive chute device which is particularlywell adapted for grain bins. It can be installed with a minimum amountof time and effort and when in place can be used effectively todischarge the major portion of the grain from. the bin. By inclining theupper edges of the side walls 13 it will be apparent that a greatervolume of grain can be discharged before it is necessary for the workmento climb into the bin and shovel the balance therefrom. The side walls13 and rear wall 14 make it necessary for the grain from the bin to beconcentrated within that enclosure, as will be readily understood. Ofcourse in use the gate valve 17 is retracted to admit as much grain asis desired into the chute device. The latter is designed to receive andconveniently support a portion of the mouth of the bag and after one bagis filled of course the gate valve 17 may be closed until the next bagis brought into position. When completed, of course, the chute devicemay be swung upwardly to its closed position and in which position noportion of the entire device projects into the room and therefore cannotbe damaged by machines as in the case heretofore experienced of devicesprojecting out into the room.

It will be understood that numerous changes in details of construction,arrangement and operation may be effected without departing from thespirit of the invention the appended claim.

What I claim is:

A discharge chute unit for grain bins or the like comprising a faceplate of sheet metal adapted to be applied to the front wall of a grainbin, the grain bin having an opening and the face plate having anopening in registry with the bin opening, a wall structure having a onepiece U-shaped sheet metal part constituting a rear and side walls.inturned flanges on the free edges of the side walls welded to the rearside of the face plate, the upper edges of the side walls incliningdownwardly and rearwardly, supporting means adjacent said inclined edgeportions, a gate plate slidable on said supporting means, an aperture insaid face plate above the opening therein through which projects thefront end portion of said gate plate, a chute device pivoted adjacentthe lower edge portion of the face plate opening, said chute devicecomprising a one piece U-shaped sheet metal wall member, lateral stopflanges on the upper portion of the side walls of said U memberengageable with said inturned flanges to limit the outward swingingmovement of the chute device, the bottom wall of the U member extendingbeyond the side walls to abut against the upper portion of the faceplate, said extending portion being curled to provide a hand hold,lateral extensions upon opposite sides of said curled extruding portionto provide a bag mouth supporting means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 18751899 1899 Anderson May 24, 1904 Coracristi Oct. 31, 1905

